The Deputy Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka, Major General Aruna Jayasekara, paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the third edition of the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026, held from 8 to 12 February 2026 in Riyadh. He was accompanied by an official delegation comprising Rear Admiral S. J. Kumara, Lieutenant Mallawarachchi, and Flight Lieutenant R. G. S. D. Gamage. The delegation was received at King Khalid International Airport by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad.
The World Defense Show, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, serves as a global platform for defence professionals, bringing together industry leaders, military officials, and government representatives to explore advancements across air, land, sea, space, and security domains. The 2026 edition featured 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries, 513 official delegations from 121 countries, and over 137,000 visitors.
During the visit, the Deputy Minister held bilateral meetings with the Deputy Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulrahman bin Ayyaf Al-Muqrin; the Deputy Minister of the National Guard of the Kingdom, Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood; the Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Ghribi; the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Mazyad bin Sulaiman Al-Amro; and the Deputy Chief of General Staff, Fahad Al Ghofaily. Discussions focused on further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation in the air, land, and maritime domains.
The defence delegation also attended the Diplomatic Reception hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh to mark the 78th Anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka, held at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarters.
The delegation visited the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, where the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, briefed them on the activities of the Mission and services provided to the Sri Lankan community. The Deputy Minister reiterated the Government’s citizen-centric policy and encouraged continued commitment to national development.
The Embassy arranged a visit to the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh, where the Deputy Minister interacted with the Board of Management, academic staff, and students.
The visit of the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Tri-Forces delegation marked a step forward in advancing defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia in areas of mutual interest between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia in the years ahead..
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
23 February 2026
